discard

1 of 2

verb

dis·​card dis-ˈkärd 

ˈdis-ˌkärd

discarded; discarding; discards

transitive verb

1

: to get rid of especially as useless or unwanted

a pile of discarded tires

They quickly discarded the idea.

2

a

: to remove (a playing card) from one's hand (see hand entry 1 sense 7a(1))

discarded an ace

b

: to play (any card except a trump) from a suit different from the one led

intransitive verb

: to discard a playing card

discard at the end of your turn

discardable

dis-ˈkärd-də-bəl 

ˈdis-ˌkär-

adjective

discarder noun

discard

2 of 2

noun

dis·​card ˈdis-ˌkärd 

1

a

: the act of removing a playing card from one's hand : the act of discarding (see discard entry 1 sense 2a)

b

: a card discarded

collected the discards

2

: one that is cast off or rejected

Synonyms

Verb

• cashier
• cast (off)
• chuck
• deep-six
• ditch
• dump
• eighty-six
• 86
• exorcise
• exorcize
• fling (off or away)
• jettison
• junk
• lay by
• lose
• pitch
• reject
• scrap
• shed
• shuck (off)
• slough (off)
• sluff (off)
• throw away
• throw out
• toss
• unload

Noun

• cull
• reject
• rejection
• second

Choose the Right Synonym for discard

discard, cast, shed, slough, scrap, junk mean to get rid of.

discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless.

discard old clothes

cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.

cast off her friends

shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster.

shed a bad habit

finally sloughed off the depression

scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form.

scrap all the old ways

would junk our educational system

Examples of discard in a Sentence

Verb

Remove and discard the stems.

a pile of discarded tires

She discarded the six of hearts.

Noun

toss all of your discards in the garbage

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Make sure to discard salsa that was left out at room temperature for over two hours, especially on hot days. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 15 May 2025

Today, House Republicans will move promptly to discard it. —Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025

Noun

The discards soon ended up in a massive tank that mimics a cow’s digestion — minus the release of gassy byproducts — where they were turned into compost and renewable energy. —Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2025

The Nigerian firm’s approach reduces plastic pollution and increases reliable employment for waste pickers while promoting sustainability by turning discards into useful elements. —Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1578, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for discard

• asgard
• backyard
• barnyard
• blackguard
• bombard
• brickyard
• canard
• churchyard
• coastguard
• courtyard
• debarred
• diehard

Kids Definition

discard

1 of 2 verb

dis·​card dis-ˈkärd 

ˈdis-ˌkärd

1

: to remove a playing card from one's hand

2

: to get rid of as useless or unwanted

discard an old hat

discardable

-ə-bəl 

adjective

discard

2 of 2 noun

dis·​card ˈdis-ˌkärd 

1

: the act of discarding in a card game

2

: a person or thing cast off or rejected